1. Headley Initially Did Not Name Ishrat Jahan
After David Headley’s revelations about Ishrat Jahan being a suicide bomber for the Lashkar-e-Toiba, a debate stormed off whether his testimony can be believed without corroboration.
The Hindu reports,
Headley told the special court that Ishrat Jahan was a Lashkar-e-Taiba operative although earlier he said he knew nothing about suicide bombers in the LeT. As Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam gave him three names, Headley chose Ishrat Jahan. “I think Ishrat Jahan was an Indian national, not a Pakistani, and was an LeT operative,” he said. Ishrat Jahan (19) was killed by the Gujarat police in an alleged fake encounter near Ahmedabad in June 2004. Javed Ghulam Sheikh, Zeeshan Johar and Ajmad Ali Akbar Ali Rana were also shot dead along with her.
Read the full Hindu report here.
Praveen Swami writes a piece for The Indian Express: Inside the Strange Life of David Headley
Also on The Quint: Learning a Lesson From Libya: What Next After Headley’s Testimony?
2. Siachen Height Provides Military Depth India Can’t Afford to Lose
Siachen survivor Lance Naik Hanamanthappa breathed his last on Thursday, amid the entire nation’s prayers for his recovery. The Times of India has a piece explaining the strategic importance of Siachen and the stalemate between India and Pakistan.
Some call it a futile fight over an icy, barren land, which has no real strategic significance. But the Indian defence establishment remains convinced about its “strategic and tactical value”. Officials say the Army will not vacate the Saltoro Ridge till Pakistan first agrees to the sequential pre-requisites of “authentication, delineation and demarcation” of the 110-km Actual Ground Position Line (AGPL), which marks the respective troop positions on the glacial heights.
Read the full piece here.
3. Gravitational Waves: Why It Is a Big Deal
Scientists said, on Thursday, that for the first time, they have detected gravitational waves, ripples in space and time hypothesised by physicist Albert Einstein a century ago. This landmark discovery opens a new window for studying the cosmos.
The Telegraph explains the significance of this discovery.
This is the first-ever direct observation of gravitational waves, something Einstein had predicted in 1916 but had never been observed until now. Gravitational waves emerged as a spin-off from the mathematics of Einstein’s general theory of relativity.
Read the full report here.
4. BJP Campaign in Muzaffarnagar: Balyan Talks of Riots, ‘Rapes’
According to The Indian Express, BJP leader Sanjeev Balyan was in Muzaffarnagar campaigning for the upcoming assembly polls. While speaking to the locals, Balyan allegedly spoke about the 2013 riots and alleged rapes. Balyan is also one of the accused in the riots.
He said the anger and pain that was caused to the people of Muzaffarnagar is what sent him to the Parliament.
Aaj se dhai saal pehle poori jo samasya is janpad mein shuru hui, jo danga hua…jo bhi yahan maujood hai aisa koi vyakti yahan nahi jiska apna koi jail nahi gaya aur bhagwan ke paas na gaya ho. Ek gussa thha… uss gusse ki wajah se ek sadharan parivar ka ek chhota bhai ya beta (ko) aapne sansad mein bheja. (The whole issue, began in this area some two-and-a-half years ago. There isn’t anyone here who did not end up with a family member either dead or in jail. There was anger among the people, and that anger sent me to Parliament.)Sanjeev Balyan, Leader, BJP
Read the full piece here.
5. There Is a Growing Strain Between the BJP and Indian Capitalism
Days before the Budget session of Parliament begins, Swapan Dasgupta tries to decipher what the Modi government has planned for the aam aadmi. Dasgupta also makes an attempt to go beyond terms like “make or Break budget” and “big bang reforms”. Terms he says, amount to lazy journalism.
The first is the expectation of significant foreign investment in both infrastructure and manufacturing. The prime minister may have been pilloried for his frequent overseas visits in 2014 and 2015. However, his spirited attempt to talk up India and put it back on the global economic map is starting to pay definite dividends. This is particularly so after the economic troubles that have soured the appetite for China.
Read the full piece here.
6. Women Qazis in Rajasthan: A Sliver of Light
Earlier this week, the Darul Uloom Deoband ruled that women, who were knowledgeable enough for the post of a Qazi, cannot be turned down merely on the basis of gender. Hindustan Times reports that the ruling has had a backlash, quite expectantly, from the All India Muslim Personal Law Board.
The women Qazis argue that their scholarship equals that of any male clergy member and that this should be the criterion for their officiating in ceremonies. The male clergy across religions have sought to perpetuate the myth that religious rites and rituals are a male domain.
Read the full edit piece here.
7. TERI’s Disgraceful Appointment
The Hindu has an editorial on RK Pachauri’s return to TERI at an executive position. The editorial explains why Pachauri’s promotion is untenable for multiple reasons.
It is apparent from the emergence of a second complaint and reports that his return has caused dismay among many women employees that the charge is not related to one incident or a rare lapse in behaviour, but a repeatedly displayed propensity.
Read the full editorial here.
8. ‘We Are Confident Delhi Will Have Its Best Summer This Year’
In an interview to The Indian Express, AAP minister Kapil Mishra speaks about the progress the water resources department has made in the one year that AAP has been in office. He also talks about cleaning the Yamuna which was one of the promises made by the party in its election manifesto.
We have worked on all 13 points in our manifesto pertaining to water sector. These include Rs 20 crore as subsidy and extending the network to 217 unauthorised colonies. We made Bawana and Munak canals functional.Kapil Mishra, Water Resources Minister
Read the full interview here.
9. Despite Cow Slaughter Ban, Haryana Plans to Let Foreigners Eat Taboo Meat
In the backdrop of the news that Haryana might relax its beef laws for foreigners, The Times of India presents a hypothetical yet hilarious conversation between two cows, that discuss their predicament. Sample this:
Well, look on the bright side of things. This is one way that we cows can become part of the Happening Haryana event, by being Hamburger Haryana. In fact, we can become real steakholders in it, with a choice of being rare, medium or well-done.First Cow
Well done indeed. But when the state sarkar permits foreigners literally to make mincemeat of us, does that apply only to asli foreigners or does it extend to nakli foreigners as well?Second Cow
Read the full report here.
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)